Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing the closure of review for cases 012-CP-05, protection of worker Rights in Swaziland, and 015-CP-05, protection of intellectual property in Kazakhstan. According to USTR, the Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) decided to close these cases following its 2005 Annual Review of petitions concerning the practices of certain beneficiary developing countries of the General System of Preferences (GSP) program. (FR Pub 05/01/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-6536.pdf)
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1. USTR Closes Certain GSP Cases in Swaziland and Kazakhstan
2. ITA Revokes Export Trade Certificates for 3 Companies
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued notices announcing that the Secretary of Commerce has determined to revoke Export Trade Certificates of Review for: (1) NYVZ Import & Export Inc., (2) North America Export Trading, LLC., and (3) Aires Group, Ltd. because of the companies' failure to file annual reports. According to the ITA, these revocations are effective 30 days from May 3, 2006. (FR Pub 05/03/06, available at (for NTYZ)http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-6592.pdf, (for North America Export Trading)http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-6690.pdf, and (for Aires Group)http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-6711.pdf)
3. EU to Allow Export of Patented Medicine to Countries in Need
The European Union (EU) has issued a press release which announces that the European Council (Council) has adopted a regulation allowing companies to produce copies of patented medicines under license for export to countries in need without sufficient capacity to produce them. The regulation fulfills a World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement from December 2005 which allows national authorities to grant compulsory licenses for such production, assuming certain conditions are fulfilled. (IP/06/550, dated 04/28/06, available at http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/550&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)
4. AMS Proposes Changes to National Organic Program's Livestock Standards
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued a proposed rule which would amend the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations to comply with the final judgment in the case of Harvey v. Johanns, which was issued on July 9, 2005, and to address the November 10, 2005 amendment to the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 concerning the transition of dairy livestock into organic production. The proposed rule would emphasize that nonorganically produced agricultural ingredients listed in the NOP regulations can be used in accordance with any specified restrictions and when the product is not commercially available in organic form. Comments must be submitted on or before May 12, 2006 and a final rule is due by June 4, 2006. (D/N TM-06-06-PR, FR Pub 04/27/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-4006.pdf)
5. FDA Posts Various Food Safety Notices to its Web Site
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted the following food-safety related notices to its Web site:
Press release on improperly refrigerated crab meat. FDA has issued a press release announcing the seizure of approximately 31,800 pounds of improperly refrigerated crab meat. (FDA press release P06-53, dated 04/07/06, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01351.html.
Guidance to Food, Feed, and Grain Trade Organizations, etc. FDA has posted to its Web site a 1993 letter to State Agricultural Directors, State Feed Control Officials, and Food, Feed, and Grain Trade Organizations regarding hard red spring wheat. (FDA guidance, dated 09/16/93, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/graingui.html.)
Safe handling of raw produce and fresh-squeezed fruit and vegetable juices. FDA has posted to its Web site a November 2005 guidance document regarding the safe handling of raw produce and fresh-squeezed fruit and vegetable juices. (FDA guidance, dated 11/03/05, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/prodsafe.html.)
6. Foreign-Trade Zones Board Actions
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board (FTZB) has issued the following notices of recent FTZB actions:
| FTZ applicant/grantee | Company/action |
|---|---|
| Illinois International Port District (FTZ 22) | Submission of an application requesting authority on behalf of Michelin North America to assemble wheels under FTZ procedures at the MNA distribution facility located in Monee, Illinois. |
| Northeast Ohio Trade & Economic Consortium (NEOTEC) (FTZ 181) | Submission of an application requesting authority to expand Site 2a in Trumbull County, Ohio within the Cleveland Customs port of entry. |
| Nevada Development Authority (FTZ 89) | The FTZB issued an order allowing the removal of certain zone-restricted merchandise (carpets from Iran - HTS 5701.01) from FTZ 89 to U.S. Customs territory. The merchandise shall be treated as foreign merchandise and is subject to all entry requirements based on its original country of origin, including payment of duties and applicable taxes. |
(FTZ 22, FR Pub 02/10/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-1885.pdf)
(FTZ 181, FR Pub 02/10/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-1886.pdf)
(FTX 89, FR Pub 02/07/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-1631.pdf )